Perpetual Contract Funding Rate

Calculation

Perpetual contract funding rates represent periodic payments exchanged between traders holding long and short positions, designed to anchor the perpetual contract price to the underlying spot market. This mechanism emulates traditional futures contract settlement, eliminating an expiration date while maintaining price convergence. The rate, typically expressed as a percentage, is determined by the funding interval and the difference between the perpetual contract price and the spot index price; a positive rate incentivizes short positions and discourages longs, while a negative rate has the opposite effect. Exchanges adjust the funding rate to minimize arbitrage opportunities and maintain alignment with the underlying asset’s valuation, influencing market participants’ cost of carry.